Celebrating International Nurses Day 2026

International Nurses Day, celebrated annually around the world on 12 May, raises awareness of the critical role that nurses play in improving health outcomes, delivering trusted primary care and addressing global health challenges.

This year’s theme ‘Our Nurses, Our Futures, Empowered Nurses Save Lives.’ This focus sends a clear message that we must empower nurses with safe, fair work environments and full nursing practice, influence, and leadership.

To mark this important occasion, Farleigh Hospice is reflecting on what empowerment means to nurses working within a palliative and end of life care setting, and highlighting the contribution that every nurse makes to delivering exceptional care to our patients and their families – not just today, but every single day.

Kate Tighe, Head of Nursing, Inpatient Care and Education

“When nurses are supported, valued and empowered, outcomes improve – for patients, families, staff and the wider community.” says Kate Tighe, Head of Nursing, Inpatient Care and Education at Farleigh Hospice.

“At Farleigh, we see this impact daily. Their clinical expertise, leadership, kindness and advocacy ensure that people receive dignified, safe and high‑quality care at some of the most important moments of their lives. They make complex decisions, provide comfort in uncertainty, and champion what matters most to our patients and families.

This theme also challenges us as leaders and as an organisation to continue investing in nursing – through education, professional development, wellbeing, and creating environments where nurses can thrive.

In hospice care, where our focus is on ensuring our patients have the best quality of life possible, we recognise that this can only be achieved by empowering our nurses.

We thank them for their professionalism, commitment and compassion. We are incredibly proud of our nursing workforce and grateful for everything they do.”